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THE PRACTICAL PATH.
does not forbid a king from fighting in defence of his kingdom ; nor were the armies and kings that offered battle to the Musalman horde pure vegetarians. The fact is that dharma is the true source of strength, even when practised in a 'second-hand’ manner ; but it must be lived to be productive of good. Where it is not put into practice, it is hound to disappear, whether the books containing its teaching continue to exist or disappear in the bellies of moths. Those who practise ahimsa become contented, thoughtful, self-centred and brave; and are respected by others with whom they may come in contact ; for, as already observed, dharmá raises the rhythm of the soul, and ahimsa is the highest dharma.
Here again we conclude that those who put the accent on the spiritual side of life--and it is the true side-cannot but recognize ahimsâ to be the highest dharma and the joy and glory of living.
In actual practice the operation of ahimså paramo dharma--ahimsa is the highest dharma----necessarily varies with the circumstances of each individual soul, inasmuch as most of the jivas are so circumstanced that it is impossible for them to avoid all forms of himså at once. Jainism does not lose sight of this fact, but takes it fully into account in the formulation of the rules of conduct which it lays down for the guidance of its followers. The layman, when he enters the path which leads to Perfection and Bliss, begins by avoiding the doing of unnecessary harm ; he then applies himself to the restricting of his desires and wants, and, finally, when the powers of his soul are developed by the giving up of all kinds of desires, and he becomes qualified for the attainment of
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